Isaiah Thomas has returned to the NBA signing a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix was in desperate need of point-guard play and they expect to receive a boost from the veteran scoring guard. This is Thomas first NBA appearance since 2022 when he played for the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets.
Isaiah Thomas came to Phoenix as a health insurance, but he made his first appearance entering the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. He played the last 1:48, took a shot attempt and shared one assist.
This was Isaiah Thomas’ first appearance in an NBA game since April, 13, 2022 when he scored three points in the Hornets’ 132-109 play-in loss to Atlanta.
“I don’t have anything to prove. I know who I am,” said Thomas, per The Athletic. “I think the world knows what I bring.”
“I’ve played the same way on each and every level, no matter the circumstances, other than when I was hurt. I’m fully healthy. I’m fully ready to just help everybody in this organization make the next step. However long I’m here, I promise I’ll make a positive impact.”
Isaiah Thomas, 35, is happy to part of the NBA association again, while his new teammates endorses him for his great career that was derailed by injuries. Thomas had surgery on his hip in 2018 and again in 2020.
As he told to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, he was actually playing on one leg for three years and he sometimes needed help from his kids to put his socks on.
“[Thomas is] a very well-liked, respected guy in this league, in this NBA player fraternity, but we’re gonna see where his game is at,” Frank Vogel said. “Again, I don’t know how much he’ll play for us. He’s really here from a depth standpoint because Saben Lee only has four games left.”
Amid Isaiah Thomas’ reemergence, Kevin Durant registers milestone in win vs. Sixers
Phoenix Suns continues to climb up the ladder in the All-Time scoring list as he required nine points to surpass NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. Durant scored eight points in the first half and made a signature mid-range jumper early in the third to complete the milestone.
He finished with 22 points in the Suns’ 115-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, and reached to a total of 28,610. The next name in the list is the legendary Wilt Chamberlain who ranks 7th with 31,419. Durant, 35, is averaging 27.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 37.3 minutes per game.
“Just grateful to be in the category with some of the greatest,” Durant said in the postgame. “We all know what Shaq meant to the game of basketball. To be up there with him is a major, major honor.”
